A BIRD STORY.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 24, Issue 16, 28 February 1913, Page 2

A BIRD STORY.

A '“Spectator” correspondent describes the following incident in her garden : ‘‘We feed the birds and always have water for them, and lately a poor maimed rook has been coming with the others. He has lost one leg altogether, and the other bangs limp and useless', without any foot. r ihc poor thing was on the lawn with three others. The three all drank., and two of them flew away. The one that remained stood before the cripple and bowed several times till his head nearly touched the ground, then he walked all round him, as if considering what to do. Then, with a sudden determination, he carefully put his wing under one of the cripple’s wings and dragged and supported him to the water. The basin is rather high, so when they reached it he gave an extra tug to lift him up, and after filling his own beak, and dropping water into his friend's mouth, as if to show where the water was, the invalid was able to reach it for himself. This happened two days ago, and a member of the family who observed the birds a great deal things that the maimed bird is a hen, and that the chivalrous friend is her mate, because nest to one of the nests a large rook is constantly perching, and he is seen to feed the inmate. But water he cannot bring, and for that she must come down. But whether he is a husband or friend, he shows devotion and intelligence.”

BUT A QUESTION OP SEX. “What is the difference between firmness and obstinacy ?” asked a y oungj lady of her fiancee. “Firmness,” was his gallant reply, “is a noble charactei istic in women ; obstinacy is a lamentable defect in men.” “Look at me !” exclaimed the leading lawyer, warmly. "I never took a "drop of medicine in my life, and I’m as strong as any two of your patients put together.” “Well, that’s nothing,” retorted the physician. “I never went to law in my life, and I’m as rich as any two dozen of your clients put together.”. Tommy’s Aunt ; “Won’t you have another piece of cake. Tommy ?” Tommy (on a visit) : '•‘No, I thank you.” Tommy’s Aunt: '“‘You seem to be suffering from loss of appetite.” Tommy : “That ain’t loss of appetite. i What I’m sufferin’ from is Politeness.”